The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
McInnes urges Dons to act brave as they prepare to face Celtic
McInnes believes Hoops will have sights set on completing the season unbeaten
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes does not expect Celtic to drop down a gear now they have beaten the Lisbon Lions’ 50-year-old record.
And he has urged his team to make sure they go to Parkhead tonight determined to end Celtic’s unbeaten record rather than hoping for a result.
Celtic achieved their longest unbeaten start to a domestic season on Sunday when a 4-0 win over Hearts made it 27 matches without defeat and McInnes is keen to test Brendan Rodgers’ side at Celtic Park.
“The focus from the Celtic team has been there and that comes from the manager,” McInnes said.
“I’m sure there’s another record they will want. I think they are already talking about trying to go through the whole season undefeated. I’m sure that’s something privately they will have in their minds.
“It would be wrong to think their focus won’t be there because they have broken a record.
“That’s something that has been an identity of this Celtic team, that they have had a focus in each and every game, because it isn’t easy to do that run, regardless of how good a team you are.
“So we have our work cut out, no question, but our aim is to go down there and make them work for everything they get and really bring a performance that they know they are in a game.”
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who expects another tough test from the Dons, could be without three of his top players again for the clash.
Striker Moussa Dembele and midfielder Stuart Armstrong had scans on their respective knee and hamstring injuries while striker Leigh Griffiths is battling to recover from a calf strain.
Rodgers said: “Even though we have played them three times and won three times, they have all been tough games in different ways so we expect no different.”